Wakaba and Others v. Attorney-General

Abstract

Human rights — Right to personal liberty — Prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment — Definition of torture — Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1984, Article 1 — Right to hearing within reasonable time — Right to freedom of conscience — Right to freedom of expression — Right to freedom of assembly and association — Right to protection from discrimination — Whether infringement of plaintiffs’ fundamental rights and freedoms — Whether justification for limitation of plaintiffs’ rights under Section 70 of Constitution — Whether threat to public security or public interest — Whether appropriate to refer plaintiffs’ claims to Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission — Whether Kenya violating Constitution — Constitution of Kenya, Sections 70, 72, 74, 77, 78, 79, 80 and 82 — Whether declaratory relief and damages appropriate

Relationship of international law and municipal law — Treaties — Ratification — Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, 1984 — Definition of torture in Article 1 of Convention — International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966 — African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, 1981 — Constitution of Kenya — Interpretation — Invocation of spirit of international instruments in Kenyan laws — Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 — The law of Kenya